108 mobile towers found in violation of radiation emission norms: Government

NEW DELHI: A total of 108 cell phone towers were found exceeding radiation limits in the last three years and penalties have been imposed on the concerned telecom providers, Lok Sabha was informed today.

A total of 72 cellphone towers were found exceeding prescribed radiation level in 2013, while the figure came down to 24 the next year and no tower was found violating the norms till May this year, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said during Question Hour.

In 2015, the number of such towers stood at 12.

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Telecom enforcement resources and monitoring field units have imposed financial penalty amounting to Rs 6.60 crore on defaulting telecom service providers for non-compliant base transceiver stations, he said.

Quoting World Health Organisation, he said current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequence from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.

Sinha also said different high courts have heard the matter and dismissed petitions in which mobile tower installations at various locations, including residential, were challenged on grounds of health effects of electromagnetic radiations.